Washington [US]: Filmmaker Sean Baker has won both the Producers Guild of America (PGA) Award and Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award for his comedy-drama film Anora.
The film follows the story of a Brooklyn sex worker, played by Mikey Madison, and Vanya Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian oligarch. The supporting cast includes Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, and Aleksei Serebryakov.
Accepting the DGA Award, Baker expressed his surprise, saying, “My imposter syndrome is skyrocketing right now, as well as my cortisol levels. It’s such an honor to be recognized by my peers.” He went on to thank his directorial team, cast, crew, production company Neon, and the DGA.
Acknowledging the challenges of making the film, Baker remarked, “I’ve tortured you and I’m so sorry,” addressing producers Quan and Coco. He praised their efforts in pulling off a $6 million film shot on film in New York City in 2023, calling it “almost an impossibility.”
Baker also applauded the dedication of his cast, particularly lead actress Mikey Madison, saying, “Working with [Madison] has changed the way I will be directing actors in the future… She has an incredible career ahead.”
Reflecting on his inspiration for filmmaking, Baker recalled watching the burning windmill scene in 1931’s Frankenstein as a child. “The next morning, I told my mother I wanted to be a director. She supported me the whole way. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m making the movies she wanted me to make. I don’t think she’s seen Anora, and I don’t want her to see Anora.”
Adding to its accolades, Anora won the Best Picture award at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards on February 8, beating strong contenders like A Complete Unknown, The Brutalist, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Perez, Nickel Boys, Sing Sing, The Substance, and Wicked.